AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network

SHARE:

Tabs

tab1

Overview

Women head just 26 of all Fortune 500 companies. As far as board representation goes, women hold roughly 16 percent of board positions in the United States and just 7.2 percent in emerging markets. They remain underrepresented in corporations throughout Latin America, holding only 8 percent of executive committee positions and 5 percent of board positions.

With that in mind, in 2012 Americas Society/Council of the Americas started the Women’s Hemispheric Network to encourage rising young professional women between the ages of 22 and 35 to stay in the workforce and reach leadership positions. The Network launched in October 2012 at a New York workshop featuring then-Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet and former First Lady of Mexico Margarita Zavala.

"Meditating in your room and making lists of pros and cons for your future can be very helpful—but it isn't the same as going out and getting your hands dirty." – Sallie Krawcheck of 85 Broads at the 2013 Women’s Network conference in New York.

Building on that success, the Network went global in 2013, hosting a series of events across the Americas, including in Bogota, Buenos Aires, Lima, Mexico City, and Miami. The Network has continued to expand its global reach in 2014, with events in a number of Latin American cities such as Panama City, and Santiago.

The Women's Hemispheric Network convened in Chile's capital city and discussed the challenges women face in both the professional and private spheres of thier lives as they purse leadership roles.
... Read More

On October 12, women from the private and public sector gathered at AS/COA in the first of a series of meetings set on increasing women’s political, professional, and economic participation across the region.
... Read More

On October 12, women from the private and public sector gathered at AS/COA in the first of a series of meetings set on increasing women’s political, professional, and economic participation across the region.
... Read More

SHARE:

The AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network will host a women's conference in São Paulo on March 19. Learn about the event.

We invite attendees of our events and others to join our LinkedIn group. Find out more at www.ASCOAWomen.org.

During the Second Women’s Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami on January 16, private-sector leaders told their personal stories on reaching top positions in their fields and advised younger female professionals on steps women can take to balance their personal lives with building a career, setting professional goals, and thriving in male-dominated business cultures. When explaining her own criteria to reach career goals, Brightstar's Catherine Smith advised: "Perfection is being the best that you can be."

"Entrepreneurship is in the nature of women; we like to multitask," Endeavor's Laura Maydón told an audience of approximately 80 women at AS/COA's 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami. "[It's] also a solution for a lot of women that want a flexible schedule." Joined by fellow entrepreneur Lisa Raggiri and moderator Camila Souza, the panelists discussed their experiences trading corporate careers for jobs they were truly passionate about, plus the advantages they had as females in male-dominated industries. Given the low ratio of women pursuing careers in STEM fields today, panelists agreed efforts to reverse the imbalance have to begin at the elementary school level. "A lot of the liberal arts programs are wonderfully marketed," said ToneRow CEO Lisa Raggiri. "Maybe we could do a better job marketing to high school students a lot of the polytechnic universities and the job opportunities they will afford them."

The president and publisher of the Florida media outlet explains her success in retaining young talent....

While participating as keynote speaker at AS/COA's 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami, Alexandra Villoch spoke with a young generation of female leaders about the business value of keeping talented professionals in the workforce. The president and publisher of the Miami Herald talked about how her company fosters an environment to hire, retain, and promote talent. "We would not do a good job in reporting out if we were not a good reflection of the community," she explained.

Villoch said a crucial factor to help women progress in their careers is having a flexible schedule, saying that women in leadership positions today have a responsibility to help create a flexible work schedule in their respective companies in order not to lose talent. "We're connected into these devices connected 24-7 anyway. If you are a good performer, you don't really have to be physically in front of us to perform," she explained.

"[M]y company gave me the flexibility that I needed to never miss one of my daughters swim meets or track meets," said Villoch. "I worked harder as a result and I gave more as a result of that flexibility."

She told her personal story as an immigrant from Cuba who has passed through many sectors in her career, and she advised young women to actively seek their personal mentors.

"Don't be afraid to be true to yourself and don't be afraid to fail," she said. "Perfection is the enemy of innovation, perfection is the enemy of being the first in market, perfection is the enemy of leading the way."

The congresswoman shared some stark figures: women represent only 5.9 percent of the world's heads of state, 4.8 percent of Fortune 500 companies, and in Florida, women make on average 83 cents for every dollar a man earns. "These realities demonstrate the subtle ways institutional sexism discourages women from entering, staying, and achieving in the workplace," Wasserman Shultz explained, saying that numbers like these can send a limiting message to women about what they can do professionally.

For Wasserman Shultz, women today should "sit on the shoulders" of previous generations and try to take younger women under their wing. "When we as leaders encourage other women to step up to positions of leadership we are ensuring that the barriers that we are breaking down today are not just rebuild all over again tomorrow," she said.

She urged senior women present at the event to find young women to mentor and with whom to share their experiences. But she also called on the younger professionals to actively search for opportunities. "Don't wait to be asked. Don't wait for an invitation to run. Don't wait to be asked to apply. Don't wait to be asked to mentor or be a mentee."

The Florida congresswoman shares her experience as a female politician and highlights the most important women's issues government needs to address today....

With 104 women in the 114th Congress, 2015 marks a record year for female political representation in the United States. On the other hand, while there have been 2,000 congressmen throughout U.S. history, only 313 women have held legislative posts. Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz notes: "We have a long way to go."

In an interview on the sidelines of the 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami, Wasserman Schultz shared her personal story about entering politics at 25 years old. She recounted the gender biases she's confronted from both her male and female colleagues. "Simply because a woman gets elected doesn’t mean that she advocates on behalf of the issues that are important to women," she said. Wasserman Schultz also points out the most important gender issues that need to be addressed today, and shares practical advice for a successful career in politics.

How do you lead in a male-dominated industry? Maria Blase gives concrete tips on everything from articulating confidence to dealing with gender biases....

As Ingersoll Rand's president of HVAC and transport Latin America, Maria Blase leads a team in a male-dominated industry. In an interview on the sidelines of the 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami, Blase shared advice on getting past the male vs. female mindset. Says Blase: "If you come to the team knowing that male-female is just one difference among many differences and you focus on the fact that we are all different, not just I’m different, I think it’ll take some of that pressure away from 'oh I am the only woman in the group.'"

She also explained how her international work experience helped develop her leadership skills, as well as how to articulate your value and connect with the right people that can push you forward in your career. "For mentorship to work, it can’t just be a check the box," she said. "There really has to be a really good personal relationship. There has to be a lot of trust."

With both a corporate and entrepreneurial background, Liliana Gonzalez talks about business relations, mentorship, and working abroad. ...

Given her experience in both the entrepreneurial and corporate world, Liliana Gonzalez discusses the skills needed to succeed in both. Currently a senior regional business director at Medtronic, Gonzalez highlights the difference in relationship dynamics. “In the corporate world, you need to be much more of an influencer and create a lot of relationships because you do have to navigate in a much more complex environment,” she said. Nonetheless, Gonzalez emphasized that the answer to achieveing success is a more personal element: "Who you are, what you believe," she said. "I think that’s the key for everything, being authentic."

Gonzalez also touched upon her international work experience and the give-and-take of mentorship. “People want to help you if they have trust in you,” she pointed out. However, “Do not expect to have a mentor if you are not performing well.”

The writer and community manager for TechCocktail defines what "feminism" should mean today....

"It's not about comparing to the before...it's about where we can be," said Camila Souza in an interview on the sidelines of the 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami. A writer and Miami community manager for media company TechCocktail, Souza breaks down the socially constructed definition "feminism" has today, and outlines the obstacles women need to focus on to keep getting ahead. "We have to be very comfortable with being ambitious," said Souza.

The co-founder of Mexican company Kichink! talks about her experience starting an e-commerce platform....

As co-founder of Kichink!, Claudia de Heredia talks about the opportunities the e-commerce company offers women and the ​Mexican market as a whole. So far, 25,000 stores have opened through Kichink!; 70 percent of them owned by women. Heredia draws on her own career experiences to share key advice to women entrepreneurs. "Stop listening to the 'No's'," says Heredia. "If you want to do something, just do it. And if you fail, good for you...You had the courage to try it and then you can try again."

After a day with inspiring female leaders from across the Americas, AS/COA President Susan Segal reiterated some of the most valuable lessons of the Women's Hemispheric Conference: Inspiring Women to Lead event. Among these is embracing a purpose or passion that will drive a woman forward with goals and endeavors, the confidence and ability to reinvent her career, and the importance of reaching out to mentors. "You make new friends and you talk about it and you think about how to overcome those challenges," said Segal. "And be not just better in your workplace, in your house, in your family, but also happier."

Business leaders discussed the challenges women face throughout their careers, as well as the set of skills they offer....

At the Women's Hemispheric Network conference on October 3, a panel of women with corporate and entrepreneurial backgrounds shared insights regarding women in leadership roles. "Being authentic, true to yourself, and having the courage of your convictions is what being a leader is about," said Managing Partner and CEO at WE Family Offices Maria Elena Lagomasino.

From professional to personal aspirations, the panel discussed the challenges that women face on a daily basis, as well as the unique set of skills they can bring to a project. While being confident and vocal are important, said panelists, women should also be aware of how they are perceived, especially in a male-dominated corporate world.

Watch to learn what these leaders also think about gender quota laws, financial independence, working with their male counterparts, and more.

The Financial Times Managing Editor stressed how women's unorthodox career paths offer an advantage....

The world is changing fast; don't be afraid to reinvent yourself at any stage of your career, said Gillian Tett at Inspiring to Lead: AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Conference. She explained that women today tend to not follow a traditional career ladder, but instead juggle different paths in their professional life to get to leadership positions later. Tett said: "We don't all have to realize at the age of 15 that we were born to lead."

The U.S. managing editor of the Financial Times presented her personal background, from studying anthropology to reporting overseas to financial analysis to leading the Financial Times, as an example of women's unorthodox professional paths. She said her own path enabled her to "pull pieces together in quite surprising ways." For Tett, women leaders have the capacity to use unconventional experiences in their careers, as "getting out of groupthink can be very helpful."

Tett explained that most women who are "out there, juggling furiously" have parts of their life that "don't necessarily fit together seamlessly and, yet, somehow give you a wider perspective that enables you to bring a joined-up vision not just at home but also in the workplace."

She also answered questions from women in the audience about different business cultures, networking, and quotas for women in boards and government.

On October 3, AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal welcomed guests and distinguished speakers to the third annual Women's Hemispheric Network Conference, this year titled "Inspiring Women to Lead." Segal summarized the accomplis...

On October 3, AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal welcomed guests and distinguished speakers to the third annual Women's Hemispheric Network Conference, this year titled "Inspiring Women to Lead." Segal summarized the accomplishments of the Network, which has seen the participation of approximately 1,000 women since its launch in 2012. Segal also talked about the next series of leadership events, including a conference in Mexico City on November 18, 2014.

Speakers:

Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

The CFO of Odebrecht spoke with AS/COA Online about encouraging women in finance and balancing work and personal life....

For Odebrecht's Chief Financial Officer Marcela Drehmer, young professional women should focus on productivity, the quality of their work, and should "never give up." After participating in the Women's Hemispheric Network conference in New York on October 3, Drehmer spoke with AS/COA Online and gave advice to women starting their careers.

She advised women to establish goals very early in their professional life, and define specific companies they would like to get involved with. Drehmer also said that having a family and a career is doable. "It's just a matter of sharing your responsibilities, to have a nice partner who you can share these with you," she said.

The deputy ambassador for Panama at the UN explains that having more women in government can shift policymaking decisions....

On the sidelines of the Women Hemispheric Network annual conference in New York, Panama's Deputy Ambassador at the UN Paulina de Franceschi spoke with AS/COA Online about the importance of increasing the number of women in public office. Franceschi explained how public policy can change once women have decision-making positions in government. She said that in Panama, once women were incorporated into goverment, that policymaking evolved. "We started to see public policies related to family, to society, to community, to women, to children, that before then we would not see," she said.

"We cannot think about development without women in the equation," Franceschi explains. For her, education for both men and women about female leadership potential is the main ingredient to achieve gender parity in Latin America.

Since its launch in 2012, AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network has provided a space for women across the Americas to forge connections and pursue their professional goals. Listen to women explain their personal takeaways from the events.

Audio: The Third Edition of the Women, Business and the Law Report

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Sarah Iqbal of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation discussed a new report on women’s prospects as entrepreneurs and employees....

Leaders in law, business, and the arts talked about finding mentors, successful networking, and life balance at the December 9 Women's Hemispheric Network Miami forum....

The second panel of the December 9 AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network forum in Miami brought young leaders to talk their crucial career moments, lived at a time where traditional gender barriers have been concquered by previous generations. Leading in the fields of law, business, the arts, and media, young prominent women talked about cultivating relationships since early in one's career, finding mentors, balancing their personal lives and relationships with a 24-7 work schedule, and taking risks to move forward with entrepreneurship plans.

Jocelyn Cortez-Young, founding partner of Minerva Capital Group, talked about how women can learn about taking risks, and make sure these are aligned with their "passions." "I knew that taking the risk to start a fund was for me...but number two was how do I take what I have achieved and align it with a passion that I have in life?

"The fact that I took the risk is what allows me and makes me able to sit on the table and to do the terms and conditions of how I want to grow my business," explained Cortez-Young.

Speakers:

Alexandra Aguirre, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Jocelyn Cortez-Young, CEO & Founding Partner, Minerva Capital Group

Nina Johnson-Milewski, Owner & Director, GalleryDiet

Mariana Atencio, Co-Anchor for The Morning Show, Fusion (moderator)

The Miami forum, hosted by Greenberg Traurig law firm, was the latest in a series of similar workshops and roundtable events held over the past year in major hemispheric cities, including New York, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Lima. The Women's Hemispheric Network convenes women from different countries and professional disciplines who seek to find common threads in their experiences.

Watch the UN top official on climate change discuss bringing women to the negotiating table, as well as how to role model equality at home....

While women advance to leadership positions in the public and private sectors, how are international organizations seeking to boost participation of women to play a role in leading international negotiations? Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Christiana Figueres spoke with AS/COA's Adriana La Rotta about what delegations need to succeed in the upcoming rounds of climate negotiation this year in Lima and later in Paris—and how women’s specific skill sets could advance the process of solving climate change.

Figueres says mistakes learned from Copenhagen are leading to better groundwork ahead of Paris, and she stresses the need to prepare documents and materials ahead of time for country delegations to easily digest during the negotiation rounds.

She went on to respond to questions about women’s roles in the discussions, pointing to her work quantifying women’s representation and participation in UNFCCC bodies and delegations—a request coming from a past negotiation round in Doha—and international enthusiasm for bringing more women from developing countries to the table. "[W]e should be participating in equal measure—men and women—to be able to contribute the ideas and the creativity and, honestly, the tenacity that it takes to reach these agreements," she explains. She also discusses women's capacity to be sensitive to common ground among negotiators. "Maybe [it’s] because we have to do that as mothers and we have to solve the fights of children and figure out at home what is going to make everybody at least partially happy and satisfied,” she says. “So, I think we have that inherently in us and it’s definitely a skill set that is surely needed in these negotiations."

When advising younger generations on how to balance a career and personal life, Figueres says: "Do your homework," adding: "The first investment we all have to make, whether men or women, is truly into very good education." She explains that, as 50 percent of the population, women should soon achieve parity in professional and political fields, but it is up to leaders of today to role model parity at home. "[It] depends on us being an example to our daughters and to our sons so that they understand that this is the way the world works...And we have to role model that as something completely natural to the next generation, because that's the way they understand it."

Figueres gave a public presentation at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas in New York on January 14, on the sidelines of the UN Investor Summit on Climate Risk, a summit gathering hundreds of financial, corporate and investment leaders with more than $20 trillion in combined assets to discuss the implications of climate change for capital markets and their portfolios.

Patricia Menéndez Cambó explored balancing work and personal life, and how companies see value in women's decision-making today....

On the sidelines of the latest AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network forum in Miami on December 9, the Chair of Global Practice of Greenberg Traurig's Patricia Menéndez-Cambó talked with AS/COA Online about what women need to advance into leadership positions in their careers. Menéndez-Cambó talked about finding ideal mentors, balancing work and personal life, how companies perceive women today, and the power of networking.

For her, sharing stories about challenges and paths into leadership is important for women today as it can "give somebody either a solution to overcoming a barrier, or it explains that challenge is not only particular to them, but it's also shared by other people."

The Miami forum was the latest in a series of similar workshops and roundtable events held over the past year in major hemispheric cities, including New York, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Lima. The Women’s Hemispheric Network convenes women from different countries and professional disciplines who seek to find common threads in their experiences.

The director of Miami's GalleryDiet talked about women pioneering in arts innovation....

On the sidelines of AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network event on December 9 in Miami, Director and Owner of GalleryDiet Nina Johnson-Milewski talked about women's footprint in the arts field and how creative professionals can leverage cultural capital by exchanging experiences with others in business and the law.

The Miami forum was the latest in a series of similar workshops and roundtable events held over the past year in major hemispheric cities, including New York, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Lima. The Women’s Hemispheric Network convenes women from different countries and professional disciplines who seek to find common threads in their experiences.

In a panel about the value of mentoring, female decision makers from the Americas were joined by their mentees to speak about their experiences with mentorship. They shared their stories about how these relationships were established and developed over the years.

During an AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network panel, Bloomberg News' John McCorry and Adriana Arai discuss their sponsorship relationship and talk about building business networks. ...

At a panel discussion during AS/COA's Women Hemispheric Network event "Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Leaders," Bloomberg News' Executive Editor John McCorry and Managing Editor Adriana Arai discussed their sponsorship relationship. While talking about the difference between sponsorship and mentorship, McCorry calls a sponsor "someone who puts you in the position to succeed, stretches you, gives you opportunity, gives you training, [and] is taking a risk." Arai encouraged participants to find sponsors and to consider the value each person can add for his or her sponsor as well. It's a "mutually beneficial" relationship, she said. Nayeli Chavez-Geller, correspondent of Univision's Primer Impacto, moderated the panel and asked McCorry and Arai questions about accountability, endorsement, and risk-taking.

At an AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network event, three female leaders share personal stories about succeeding in a field dominated by men....

During AS/COA's Women Hemispheric Network event "Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Leaders," three women—Blanco Treviño, President and Chief Executive Officer, Softtek; Adriana Noreña, General Director of Spanish Speaking Latin America, Google; and Sonia Dulá, Vice Chairman of Latin America, Bank of America Merrill Lynch—talk about being in leadership positions within innovation, science, and technology companies. They discuss challenges, diversity, and mentorship and field questions from participants.

At an AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network event, Sallie Krawcheck of 85 Broads discussed the importance of networking and diversity. ...

During AS/COA's Women Hemispheric Network event Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Leaders, Sallie Krawchek, business leader at 85 Broads, talked about the "number one rule" of business: networking inside and outside of one's company. Krawcheck also discussed the business challenges she faced while working in finance during the economic downturn. Concerning the role of women in the financial sector, she said, "It's not about women being better than men...It's not about men being better than women. The power of diversity is better than both." Krawcheck continued by highlighting research showing that having women in leadership roles is good for business and noted that diverse teams drive innovation.

Commenting about AS/COA Women's event last year and the Network's plans for 2014, Segal talks about focusing on female talents between 22 and 35 years of age—a critical time for women to advance their careers into leadership positions—and from where the next generation of of political and business leaders.

"If women don't make the decision to stay in the workforce now, they will not become CEOs of major indigenous companies. They will not become senators and congresswomen. They will not become leading lawyers. They will not become presidents."

Segal stressed the need for qualified professionals to change the number of women on boards of directors in the private sector.

Zavala talked about the advancement of women in the political world, but said it was not enough in the business sector. She spoke about the importance of having a role model. "We should not forget our predecessors and should make sure each one of you has your own list of women who are your inspiration," explained the former first lady of Mexico.

AS/COA Women completed one year of activities throughout the Americas. In 2012 Americas Society/Council of the Americas started the Women’s Hemispheric Network to encourage young, talented women from throughout the region to remain in the workforce and reach leadership positions. Since then, the Network hosted round tables and workshops in the Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and in New York. AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network is based on two fundamental pillars. The first is mentoring, with a focus on role models and professional support, while the second is the importance of making and maintaining connections.

Speakers:

Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

President and CEO of Softek Blanca Treviño speaks with AS/COA Online about business challenges, leadership, and the impact that mentorship's "two-way street" can have in women's lives....

In an interview for AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network, President and CEO of Softtek Blanca Treviño shares advice about advancing in a leadership role. She identifies challenges, such as unifying the one's partners around the same values and goals. Being a leader is not only encouraging one's team, she explains, but also "keeping your team together, working together, helping each other." She also talks about increasing awareness about Mexico's technology sector and why women excel at "disruptive innovation."

Deputy Managing Director of Banco Bradesco S.A. Denise Pavarina talks with AS/COA Online about the changing role that women are playing in the financial sector. Increasing numbers of women are seen on board positions, and women overall have a critical impact on investments and purchasing decisions, she says. As women continue gaining purchasing power, company executives are finding their opinions valuable to making business decisions. Pavarina also notes that emotional intelligence gives women an advantage as financial professionals, where behavorial perception and methodical decision-making help them appropriately assess situations.

AS/COA speaks with Nayeli Chavez-Geller, Univisión correspondent for Primer Impacto, on the shifting landscape of women's roles in journalism....

In an interview with AS/COA Online, Univisión Correspondent Nayeli Chavez-Geller discusses her career as a woman in journalism. Despite certain stereotypes about women and, particularly, Latinas in news media and television, Chavez-Geller describes her experience as one with women in leadership positions. But she does note a shift in the past decade, from a time of less solidarity between women over balancing work-life challenges to a more recent theme of mentorship, or "the movement of women helping other women." She notes a heightened social responsibility among women to lend each other a hand, saying: "It's like a new trend. I hope it stays."

Costa Rica's first female president speaks with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal about women's rights, innovation, and her remaining months in office....

On September 26, Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla participated in a private event as part of AS/COA's 2013 Presidents of the Americas Series. During the discussion, she spoke with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal about education and innovation in Costa Rica, her eight months left in the presidency, and the advancement of women's rights in Latin America.

Costa Rica ranked number one in women's rights in Americas Quarterly's 2013 Social Inclusion Index. According to Chinchilla—the first woman to be elected president in her country—Costa Rica's legislature has almost 50 percent of its seats occupied by women. "I believe in quotas, but they have to be seen as a transitional instrument, because otherwise is very hard to change attitudes," explained the president.

Although the president celebrates progress in terms of women's political participation in Latin America, Chinchilla believes there is much countries must do to make progress in the private sector. The president explains that when women work for corporations, they can have problems getting hired, be victims of underemployment, and have difficulty advancing to higher positions.

The former first lady of Mexico spoke during AS/COA's roundtable on women's economic empowerment in Colombia....

AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network held its first roundtable on women's economic empowerment in Colombia, convening leading women in business and public service to share their success stories and draw lessons for a rising generation of young professionals at the local and regional level.

Sharing experiences of remarkable leaders and their views on the importance of mentoring and networking are aimed to encourage entry- and mid-level women to make the leap to leadership positions within their own fields and, ultimately, to reach their goals.

Margarita Zavala is the former first lady of Mexico. During the tenure of her husband, President Felipe Calderón from 2006 to 2012, she was the president of the Consejo Ciudadano Consultivo del Sistema para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF), she headed la Estrategia Nacional para una Nueva Vida, and she worked on the issue of Proteccion for Unaccompanied Migrant Children, as well as Migrant Women. Previously, she was a federal congresswoman from 2003 to 2006, where she was named deputy coordinator of Social Policy of the PAN Parliamentary Group.

Following the "Women's Economic Empowerment in Colombia: Lessons from the Top" roundtable on June 12, Maria Emma Mejía discussed women’s leadership in an interview with AS/COA. The former foreign minister of Colombia and the president of the Board of Directors of Fundación Pies Descalzos spoke about achievements and obstacles for women in Colombia, and the role of mentorship in furthering gender equality in the public and private sectors.

Mejía noted that in the late 1980s, Colombian women began to gain a larger presence in the political arena as vice ministers, which started a political transformation. This led to a push for gender laws and quotas which she believes are critical to women’s success. Despite the fact that women now represent over 50 percent of Colombia’s university students, violence—especially in rural areas—represents an obstacle for Colombian women, she explained.

In addition, Mejía credited the late Congressman Luis Carlos Galán as her mentor, and said women need a similar figure to provide guidance. "[Women] have to take take risks," she noted. In spite of challenges and failures, she urged women not leave the labor force. "It's a life-long commitment," she said.

“[W]e can’t just look at half of society if we want to measure social inclusion,” says AS/COA’s Susan Segal on the assessment of women’s rights in the new Index....

Now in its second year of its Social Inclusion Index, Americas Quarterly added women’s rights as new indicator. AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal talks about why measuring women’s participation in society is a crucial element to measuring the concept of social inclusion in the Americas—not least due to how important women’s rights are to economic growth.

“What country can be competitive—particularly when many of these countries lack qualified workers—if 50 percent of the potential workforce is not in the workforce?” says Segal.

“What country can be competitive—particularly when many of these countries lack qualified workers—if 50 percent of the potential workforce is not in the workforce?” says Segal.

The Index analyzed five main areas assess women’s rights: maternal mortality rates, abortion laws and degrees of permissibility of abortion, women in political power, violence against women, and the existence of public information on violence against women. “If you don’t deal with violence against women then, in fact, you have no ability to change the society and have more social inclusion.”

“[W]e can’t just look at half of society if we want to measure social inclusion,” says Segal.

Americas Quarterly’s 2013 Social Inclusion Index evaluates 16 countries across 21 indicators in the areas of access to public and private goods by race, ethnicity, and gender; attitudes toward empowerment and government responsiveness; and the protection of basic civil, political, and human rights.

The BNY Mellon president talks with AS/COA Online about how to increase the number of women in business leadership roles....

President of BNY Mellon Karen Peetz spoke with AS/COA Online about increasing women’s board representation and the challenges facing women in top roles in business and finance. “We don’t have as many women in senior positions that people can look up to and aspire to,” she says.

Washington's top diplomat for the Americas outlines how the United States is partnering with Latin America on the advancement of women in political life and economic growth, as well as gender's role in anti-corruption efforts....

Washington's top diplomat for the Americas talked to AS/COA Online's David Gacs about ways the United States is partnering with Latin America on the advancement and inclusion of women in political life, their part in countries' economic growth, and gender's role in anti-corruption efforts.

As part of AS/COA's first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women’s economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere, AS/COA's President and CEO Susan Segal moderated a panel discussion on the importance of female role models.

Speakers:...

As part of AS/COA's first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women’s economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere, AS/COA's President and CEO Susan Segal moderated a panel discussion on the importance of female role models.

AS/COA hosted a panel focused on implications for economic development as part of its first annual full day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere. ...

AS/COA hosted a panel focused on implications for economic development as part of its first annual full day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere. Kristin Hetle, director of strategic partnerships at UN Women, moderated the panel, where speakers shared their personal stories and advice on how to take advantage of available economic resources.

As part of AS/COA's first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere, CNBC's anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera moderated a panel discussion on the woman entrepreneur.

As part of AS/COA's women's economic empowerment workshop, Bloomberg TV's Stephanie Ruhle moderated a panel on women's experiences in the executive suite....

AS/COA hosted a panel on women's road to the executive suite as part of its first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere. Bloomberg TV presenter Stephanie Ruhle moderated the panel, with speakers relating their experiences in the public and private sectors.

Speakers:

Judith McHale, Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Former President and CEO of Discovery Communications

The leading Mexican business leader discussed the challenges female executives and businesswomen face in Mexico and shared some of her experiences and best practices....

In a video presentation at AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event, the leading Mexican business leader discussed the challenges female executives and businesswomen face in Mexico and shared some of her experiences and best practices.

President & General Manager for Vaccines at Pfizer Susan Silbermann participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York. In this video, Silbermann discusses the reasons the role women should take in hemispheric economic growth....

President and General Manager for Vaccines at Pfizer Susan Silbermann believes female economic empowerment is "so important for the world, specifically for the hemisphere. What's fascinating to see in Latin America in the last few years is how many people have come out of poverty because of economic growth, and in those millions of people there are millions and millions of women. The more we can do to empower them, to grow businesses, to become a part of businesses, to create economic wealth, the better the region will do and the better the entire hemisphere will do."

Silbermann participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York.

Senior Adviser on Emerging Sustainable Cities for the Inter-American Development Bank Ambassador Carolina Barco discusses the importance of female economic empowerment, especially among Latin America's poor and the middle classes....

Senior Adviser on Emerging Sustainable Cities for the Inter-American Development Bank and former Colombian Ambassador to Washington Carolina Barco participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York.

In this video, Ambassador Barco discusses the importance of female economic empowerment in Latin America, "especially among the poorest and the middle class. Women are the mainstay of families and of communities."

President & CEO of Grupo Diarq Gina Diez Barroso participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York, where she shared her ideas on the importance of female economic empowerment in Mexico: "I think that female empowerment has grown enormously and there have been a lot of changes, with many new female figures in different businesses, and I think it's going to continue to grow."

Director of Strategic Partnerships for UN Women Kristin Hetle discusses the economic logic of female participation in a country's economy in this video on the sidelines of AS/COA women's networking event....

As the Director of Strategic Partnerships for UN Women Kristin Hetle participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event. In a short interview on the sidelines of the event, Hetle discussed the economic logic of full female participation in a country's economy.

The former under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs explains how female economic empowerment is relevant at every socio-economic level on the sidelines of AS/COA's women's networking event....

Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Former President and CEO of Discovery Communications Judith McHale explains how female economic empowerment is relevant at every socio-economic level. "You can't advance your country, your society, or your community when half of the population is not participating to the full extent that they could", says McHale.

Washington's top diplomat for the Americas outlines how the United States is partnering with Latin America on the advancement of women in political life and economic growth, as well as gender's role in anti-corruption efforts.
... Read More

The Summer 2012 issue of Americas Quarterly released on July 26 explores how despite impressive achievements in access to education and political representation, women continue to lag behind men in representation on corporate boards, in labor markets, in political party decision-making positions, and in judicial systems.
... Read More

Women head just 26 of all Fortune 500 companies. As far as board representation goes, women hold roughly 16 percent of board positions in the United States and just 7.2 percent in emerging markets. They remain underrepresented in corporations throughout Latin America, holding only 8 percent of executive committee positions and 5 percent of board positions.

With that in mind, in 2012 Americas Society/Council of the Americas started the Women’s Hemispheric Network to encourage rising young professional women between the ages of 22 and 35 to stay in the workforce and reach leadership positions. The Network launched in October 2012 at a New York workshop featuring then-Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet and former First Lady of Mexico Margarita Zavala.

"Meditating in your room and making lists of pros and cons for your future can be very helpful—but it isn't the same as going out and getting your hands dirty." – Sallie Krawcheck of 85 Broads at the 2013 Women’s Network conference in New York.

Building on that success, the Network went global in 2013, hosting a series of events across the Americas, including in Bogota, Buenos Aires, Lima, Mexico City, and Miami. The Network has continued to expand its global reach in 2014, with events in a number of Latin American cities such as Panama City, and Santiago.

ABOUT THIS PORTAL

In conjunction with AS/COA’s programmatic efforts, we offer this portal to maintain an active discussion. Explore the following areas of the portal by navigating through the tabs above.

We hold events across the Americas. Find out where we have been on the events tab.

View videos in the Watch & Listen section.

Get updates via the AS/COA Women's Network Blog.

Access interviews, publications, and more from hemispheric women leaders.

The Women's Hemispheric Network convened in Chile's capital city and discussed the challenges women face in both the professional and private spheres of thier lives as they purse leadership roles.
... Read More

On October 12, women from the private and public sector gathered at AS/COA in the first of a series of meetings set on increasing women’s political, professional, and economic participation across the region.
... Read More

On October 12, women from the private and public sector gathered at AS/COA in the first of a series of meetings set on increasing women’s political, professional, and economic participation across the region.
... Read More

SHARE:

Learn More

The AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network will host a women's conference in São Paulo on March 19. Learn about the event.

We invite attendees of our events and others to join our LinkedIn group. Find out more at www.ASCOAWomen.org.

During the Second Women’s Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami on January 16, private-sector leaders told their personal stories on reaching top positions in their fields and advised younger female professionals on steps women can take to balance their personal lives with building a career, setting professional goals, and thriving in male-dominated business cultures. When explaining her own criteria to reach career goals, Brightstar's Catherine Smith advised: "Perfection is being the best that you can be."

"Entrepreneurship is in the nature of women; we like to multitask," Endeavor's Laura Maydón told an audience of approximately 80 women at AS/COA's 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami. "[It's] also a solution for a lot of women that want a flexible schedule." Joined by fellow entrepreneur Lisa Raggiri and moderator Camila Souza, the panelists discussed their experiences trading corporate careers for jobs they were truly passionate about, plus the advantages they had as females in male-dominated industries. Given the low ratio of women pursuing careers in STEM fields today, panelists agreed efforts to reverse the imbalance have to begin at the elementary school level. "A lot of the liberal arts programs are wonderfully marketed," said ToneRow CEO Lisa Raggiri. "Maybe we could do a better job marketing to high school students a lot of the polytechnic universities and the job opportunities they will afford them."

The president and publisher of the Florida media outlet explains her success in retaining young talent....

While participating as keynote speaker at AS/COA's 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami, Alexandra Villoch spoke with a young generation of female leaders about the business value of keeping talented professionals in the workforce. The president and publisher of the Miami Herald talked about how her company fosters an environment to hire, retain, and promote talent. "We would not do a good job in reporting out if we were not a good reflection of the community," she explained.

Villoch said a crucial factor to help women progress in their careers is having a flexible schedule, saying that women in leadership positions today have a responsibility to help create a flexible work schedule in their respective companies in order not to lose talent. "We're connected into these devices connected 24-7 anyway. If you are a good performer, you don't really have to be physically in front of us to perform," she explained.

"[M]y company gave me the flexibility that I needed to never miss one of my daughters swim meets or track meets," said Villoch. "I worked harder as a result and I gave more as a result of that flexibility."

She told her personal story as an immigrant from Cuba who has passed through many sectors in her career, and she advised young women to actively seek their personal mentors.

"Don't be afraid to be true to yourself and don't be afraid to fail," she said. "Perfection is the enemy of innovation, perfection is the enemy of being the first in market, perfection is the enemy of leading the way."

The congresswoman shared some stark figures: women represent only 5.9 percent of the world's heads of state, 4.8 percent of Fortune 500 companies, and in Florida, women make on average 83 cents for every dollar a man earns. "These realities demonstrate the subtle ways institutional sexism discourages women from entering, staying, and achieving in the workplace," Wasserman Shultz explained, saying that numbers like these can send a limiting message to women about what they can do professionally.

For Wasserman Shultz, women today should "sit on the shoulders" of previous generations and try to take younger women under their wing. "When we as leaders encourage other women to step up to positions of leadership we are ensuring that the barriers that we are breaking down today are not just rebuild all over again tomorrow," she said.

She urged senior women present at the event to find young women to mentor and with whom to share their experiences. But she also called on the younger professionals to actively search for opportunities. "Don't wait to be asked. Don't wait for an invitation to run. Don't wait to be asked to apply. Don't wait to be asked to mentor or be a mentee."

The Florida congresswoman shares her experience as a female politician and highlights the most important women's issues government needs to address today....

With 104 women in the 114th Congress, 2015 marks a record year for female political representation in the United States. On the other hand, while there have been 2,000 congressmen throughout U.S. history, only 313 women have held legislative posts. Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz notes: "We have a long way to go."

In an interview on the sidelines of the 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami, Wasserman Schultz shared her personal story about entering politics at 25 years old. She recounted the gender biases she's confronted from both her male and female colleagues. "Simply because a woman gets elected doesn’t mean that she advocates on behalf of the issues that are important to women," she said. Wasserman Schultz also points out the most important gender issues that need to be addressed today, and shares practical advice for a successful career in politics.

How do you lead in a male-dominated industry? Maria Blase gives concrete tips on everything from articulating confidence to dealing with gender biases....

As Ingersoll Rand's president of HVAC and transport Latin America, Maria Blase leads a team in a male-dominated industry. In an interview on the sidelines of the 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami, Blase shared advice on getting past the male vs. female mindset. Says Blase: "If you come to the team knowing that male-female is just one difference among many differences and you focus on the fact that we are all different, not just I’m different, I think it’ll take some of that pressure away from 'oh I am the only woman in the group.'"

She also explained how her international work experience helped develop her leadership skills, as well as how to articulate your value and connect with the right people that can push you forward in your career. "For mentorship to work, it can’t just be a check the box," she said. "There really has to be a really good personal relationship. There has to be a lot of trust."

With both a corporate and entrepreneurial background, Liliana Gonzalez talks about business relations, mentorship, and working abroad. ...

Given her experience in both the entrepreneurial and corporate world, Liliana Gonzalez discusses the skills needed to succeed in both. Currently a senior regional business director at Medtronic, Gonzalez highlights the difference in relationship dynamics. “In the corporate world, you need to be much more of an influencer and create a lot of relationships because you do have to navigate in a much more complex environment,” she said. Nonetheless, Gonzalez emphasized that the answer to achieveing success is a more personal element: "Who you are, what you believe," she said. "I think that’s the key for everything, being authentic."

Gonzalez also touched upon her international work experience and the give-and-take of mentorship. “People want to help you if they have trust in you,” she pointed out. However, “Do not expect to have a mentor if you are not performing well.”

The writer and community manager for TechCocktail defines what "feminism" should mean today....

"It's not about comparing to the before...it's about where we can be," said Camila Souza in an interview on the sidelines of the 2nd Women's Hemispheric Network Forum in Miami. A writer and Miami community manager for media company TechCocktail, Souza breaks down the socially constructed definition "feminism" has today, and outlines the obstacles women need to focus on to keep getting ahead. "We have to be very comfortable with being ambitious," said Souza.

The co-founder of Mexican company Kichink! talks about her experience starting an e-commerce platform....

As co-founder of Kichink!, Claudia de Heredia talks about the opportunities the e-commerce company offers women and the ​Mexican market as a whole. So far, 25,000 stores have opened through Kichink!; 70 percent of them owned by women. Heredia draws on her own career experiences to share key advice to women entrepreneurs. "Stop listening to the 'No's'," says Heredia. "If you want to do something, just do it. And if you fail, good for you...You had the courage to try it and then you can try again."

After a day with inspiring female leaders from across the Americas, AS/COA President Susan Segal reiterated some of the most valuable lessons of the Women's Hemispheric Conference: Inspiring Women to Lead event. Among these is embracing a purpose or passion that will drive a woman forward with goals and endeavors, the confidence and ability to reinvent her career, and the importance of reaching out to mentors. "You make new friends and you talk about it and you think about how to overcome those challenges," said Segal. "And be not just better in your workplace, in your house, in your family, but also happier."

Business leaders discussed the challenges women face throughout their careers, as well as the set of skills they offer....

At the Women's Hemispheric Network conference on October 3, a panel of women with corporate and entrepreneurial backgrounds shared insights regarding women in leadership roles. "Being authentic, true to yourself, and having the courage of your convictions is what being a leader is about," said Managing Partner and CEO at WE Family Offices Maria Elena Lagomasino.

From professional to personal aspirations, the panel discussed the challenges that women face on a daily basis, as well as the unique set of skills they can bring to a project. While being confident and vocal are important, said panelists, women should also be aware of how they are perceived, especially in a male-dominated corporate world.

Watch to learn what these leaders also think about gender quota laws, financial independence, working with their male counterparts, and more.

The Financial Times Managing Editor stressed how women's unorthodox career paths offer an advantage....

The world is changing fast; don't be afraid to reinvent yourself at any stage of your career, said Gillian Tett at Inspiring to Lead: AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Conference. She explained that women today tend to not follow a traditional career ladder, but instead juggle different paths in their professional life to get to leadership positions later. Tett said: "We don't all have to realize at the age of 15 that we were born to lead."

The U.S. managing editor of the Financial Times presented her personal background, from studying anthropology to reporting overseas to financial analysis to leading the Financial Times, as an example of women's unorthodox professional paths. She said her own path enabled her to "pull pieces together in quite surprising ways." For Tett, women leaders have the capacity to use unconventional experiences in their careers, as "getting out of groupthink can be very helpful."

Tett explained that most women who are "out there, juggling furiously" have parts of their life that "don't necessarily fit together seamlessly and, yet, somehow give you a wider perspective that enables you to bring a joined-up vision not just at home but also in the workplace."

She also answered questions from women in the audience about different business cultures, networking, and quotas for women in boards and government.

On October 3, AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal welcomed guests and distinguished speakers to the third annual Women's Hemispheric Network Conference, this year titled "Inspiring Women to Lead." Segal summarized the accomplis...

On October 3, AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal welcomed guests and distinguished speakers to the third annual Women's Hemispheric Network Conference, this year titled "Inspiring Women to Lead." Segal summarized the accomplishments of the Network, which has seen the participation of approximately 1,000 women since its launch in 2012. Segal also talked about the next series of leadership events, including a conference in Mexico City on November 18, 2014.

Speakers:

Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

The CFO of Odebrecht spoke with AS/COA Online about encouraging women in finance and balancing work and personal life....

For Odebrecht's Chief Financial Officer Marcela Drehmer, young professional women should focus on productivity, the quality of their work, and should "never give up." After participating in the Women's Hemispheric Network conference in New York on October 3, Drehmer spoke with AS/COA Online and gave advice to women starting their careers.

She advised women to establish goals very early in their professional life, and define specific companies they would like to get involved with. Drehmer also said that having a family and a career is doable. "It's just a matter of sharing your responsibilities, to have a nice partner who you can share these with you," she said.

The deputy ambassador for Panama at the UN explains that having more women in government can shift policymaking decisions....

On the sidelines of the Women Hemispheric Network annual conference in New York, Panama's Deputy Ambassador at the UN Paulina de Franceschi spoke with AS/COA Online about the importance of increasing the number of women in public office. Franceschi explained how public policy can change once women have decision-making positions in government. She said that in Panama, once women were incorporated into goverment, that policymaking evolved. "We started to see public policies related to family, to society, to community, to women, to children, that before then we would not see," she said.

"We cannot think about development without women in the equation," Franceschi explains. For her, education for both men and women about female leadership potential is the main ingredient to achieve gender parity in Latin America.

Since its launch in 2012, AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network has provided a space for women across the Americas to forge connections and pursue their professional goals. Listen to women explain their personal takeaways from the events.

Audio: The Third Edition of the Women, Business and the Law Report

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Sarah Iqbal of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation discussed a new report on women’s prospects as entrepreneurs and employees....

Leaders in law, business, and the arts talked about finding mentors, successful networking, and life balance at the December 9 Women's Hemispheric Network Miami forum....

The second panel of the December 9 AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network forum in Miami brought young leaders to talk their crucial career moments, lived at a time where traditional gender barriers have been concquered by previous generations. Leading in the fields of law, business, the arts, and media, young prominent women talked about cultivating relationships since early in one's career, finding mentors, balancing their personal lives and relationships with a 24-7 work schedule, and taking risks to move forward with entrepreneurship plans.

Jocelyn Cortez-Young, founding partner of Minerva Capital Group, talked about how women can learn about taking risks, and make sure these are aligned with their "passions." "I knew that taking the risk to start a fund was for me...but number two was how do I take what I have achieved and align it with a passion that I have in life?

"The fact that I took the risk is what allows me and makes me able to sit on the table and to do the terms and conditions of how I want to grow my business," explained Cortez-Young.

Speakers:

Alexandra Aguirre, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Jocelyn Cortez-Young, CEO & Founding Partner, Minerva Capital Group

Nina Johnson-Milewski, Owner & Director, GalleryDiet

Mariana Atencio, Co-Anchor for The Morning Show, Fusion (moderator)

The Miami forum, hosted by Greenberg Traurig law firm, was the latest in a series of similar workshops and roundtable events held over the past year in major hemispheric cities, including New York, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Lima. The Women's Hemispheric Network convenes women from different countries and professional disciplines who seek to find common threads in their experiences.

Watch the UN top official on climate change discuss bringing women to the negotiating table, as well as how to role model equality at home....

While women advance to leadership positions in the public and private sectors, how are international organizations seeking to boost participation of women to play a role in leading international negotiations? Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Christiana Figueres spoke with AS/COA's Adriana La Rotta about what delegations need to succeed in the upcoming rounds of climate negotiation this year in Lima and later in Paris—and how women’s specific skill sets could advance the process of solving climate change.

Figueres says mistakes learned from Copenhagen are leading to better groundwork ahead of Paris, and she stresses the need to prepare documents and materials ahead of time for country delegations to easily digest during the negotiation rounds.

She went on to respond to questions about women’s roles in the discussions, pointing to her work quantifying women’s representation and participation in UNFCCC bodies and delegations—a request coming from a past negotiation round in Doha—and international enthusiasm for bringing more women from developing countries to the table. "[W]e should be participating in equal measure—men and women—to be able to contribute the ideas and the creativity and, honestly, the tenacity that it takes to reach these agreements," she explains. She also discusses women's capacity to be sensitive to common ground among negotiators. "Maybe [it’s] because we have to do that as mothers and we have to solve the fights of children and figure out at home what is going to make everybody at least partially happy and satisfied,” she says. “So, I think we have that inherently in us and it’s definitely a skill set that is surely needed in these negotiations."

When advising younger generations on how to balance a career and personal life, Figueres says: "Do your homework," adding: "The first investment we all have to make, whether men or women, is truly into very good education." She explains that, as 50 percent of the population, women should soon achieve parity in professional and political fields, but it is up to leaders of today to role model parity at home. "[It] depends on us being an example to our daughters and to our sons so that they understand that this is the way the world works...And we have to role model that as something completely natural to the next generation, because that's the way they understand it."

Figueres gave a public presentation at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas in New York on January 14, on the sidelines of the UN Investor Summit on Climate Risk, a summit gathering hundreds of financial, corporate and investment leaders with more than $20 trillion in combined assets to discuss the implications of climate change for capital markets and their portfolios.

Patricia Menéndez Cambó explored balancing work and personal life, and how companies see value in women's decision-making today....

On the sidelines of the latest AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network forum in Miami on December 9, the Chair of Global Practice of Greenberg Traurig's Patricia Menéndez-Cambó talked with AS/COA Online about what women need to advance into leadership positions in their careers. Menéndez-Cambó talked about finding ideal mentors, balancing work and personal life, how companies perceive women today, and the power of networking.

For her, sharing stories about challenges and paths into leadership is important for women today as it can "give somebody either a solution to overcoming a barrier, or it explains that challenge is not only particular to them, but it's also shared by other people."

The Miami forum was the latest in a series of similar workshops and roundtable events held over the past year in major hemispheric cities, including New York, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Lima. The Women’s Hemispheric Network convenes women from different countries and professional disciplines who seek to find common threads in their experiences.

The director of Miami's GalleryDiet talked about women pioneering in arts innovation....

On the sidelines of AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network event on December 9 in Miami, Director and Owner of GalleryDiet Nina Johnson-Milewski talked about women's footprint in the arts field and how creative professionals can leverage cultural capital by exchanging experiences with others in business and the law.

The Miami forum was the latest in a series of similar workshops and roundtable events held over the past year in major hemispheric cities, including New York, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Lima. The Women’s Hemispheric Network convenes women from different countries and professional disciplines who seek to find common threads in their experiences.

In a panel about the value of mentoring, female decision makers from the Americas were joined by their mentees to speak about their experiences with mentorship. They shared their stories about how these relationships were established and developed over the years.

During an AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network panel, Bloomberg News' John McCorry and Adriana Arai discuss their sponsorship relationship and talk about building business networks. ...

At a panel discussion during AS/COA's Women Hemispheric Network event "Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Leaders," Bloomberg News' Executive Editor John McCorry and Managing Editor Adriana Arai discussed their sponsorship relationship. While talking about the difference between sponsorship and mentorship, McCorry calls a sponsor "someone who puts you in the position to succeed, stretches you, gives you opportunity, gives you training, [and] is taking a risk." Arai encouraged participants to find sponsors and to consider the value each person can add for his or her sponsor as well. It's a "mutually beneficial" relationship, she said. Nayeli Chavez-Geller, correspondent of Univision's Primer Impacto, moderated the panel and asked McCorry and Arai questions about accountability, endorsement, and risk-taking.

At an AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network event, three female leaders share personal stories about succeeding in a field dominated by men....

During AS/COA's Women Hemispheric Network event "Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Leaders," three women—Blanco Treviño, President and Chief Executive Officer, Softtek; Adriana Noreña, General Director of Spanish Speaking Latin America, Google; and Sonia Dulá, Vice Chairman of Latin America, Bank of America Merrill Lynch—talk about being in leadership positions within innovation, science, and technology companies. They discuss challenges, diversity, and mentorship and field questions from participants.

At an AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network event, Sallie Krawcheck of 85 Broads discussed the importance of networking and diversity. ...

During AS/COA's Women Hemispheric Network event Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Leaders, Sallie Krawchek, business leader at 85 Broads, talked about the "number one rule" of business: networking inside and outside of one's company. Krawcheck also discussed the business challenges she faced while working in finance during the economic downturn. Concerning the role of women in the financial sector, she said, "It's not about women being better than men...It's not about men being better than women. The power of diversity is better than both." Krawcheck continued by highlighting research showing that having women in leadership roles is good for business and noted that diverse teams drive innovation.

Commenting about AS/COA Women's event last year and the Network's plans for 2014, Segal talks about focusing on female talents between 22 and 35 years of age—a critical time for women to advance their careers into leadership positions—and from where the next generation of of political and business leaders.

"If women don't make the decision to stay in the workforce now, they will not become CEOs of major indigenous companies. They will not become senators and congresswomen. They will not become leading lawyers. They will not become presidents."

Segal stressed the need for qualified professionals to change the number of women on boards of directors in the private sector.

Zavala talked about the advancement of women in the political world, but said it was not enough in the business sector. She spoke about the importance of having a role model. "We should not forget our predecessors and should make sure each one of you has your own list of women who are your inspiration," explained the former first lady of Mexico.

AS/COA Women completed one year of activities throughout the Americas. In 2012 Americas Society/Council of the Americas started the Women’s Hemispheric Network to encourage young, talented women from throughout the region to remain in the workforce and reach leadership positions. Since then, the Network hosted round tables and workshops in the Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and in New York. AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network is based on two fundamental pillars. The first is mentoring, with a focus on role models and professional support, while the second is the importance of making and maintaining connections.

Speakers:

Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

President and CEO of Softek Blanca Treviño speaks with AS/COA Online about business challenges, leadership, and the impact that mentorship's "two-way street" can have in women's lives....

In an interview for AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network, President and CEO of Softtek Blanca Treviño shares advice about advancing in a leadership role. She identifies challenges, such as unifying the one's partners around the same values and goals. Being a leader is not only encouraging one's team, she explains, but also "keeping your team together, working together, helping each other." She also talks about increasing awareness about Mexico's technology sector and why women excel at "disruptive innovation."

Deputy Managing Director of Banco Bradesco S.A. Denise Pavarina talks with AS/COA Online about the changing role that women are playing in the financial sector. Increasing numbers of women are seen on board positions, and women overall have a critical impact on investments and purchasing decisions, she says. As women continue gaining purchasing power, company executives are finding their opinions valuable to making business decisions. Pavarina also notes that emotional intelligence gives women an advantage as financial professionals, where behavorial perception and methodical decision-making help them appropriately assess situations.

AS/COA speaks with Nayeli Chavez-Geller, Univisión correspondent for Primer Impacto, on the shifting landscape of women's roles in journalism....

In an interview with AS/COA Online, Univisión Correspondent Nayeli Chavez-Geller discusses her career as a woman in journalism. Despite certain stereotypes about women and, particularly, Latinas in news media and television, Chavez-Geller describes her experience as one with women in leadership positions. But she does note a shift in the past decade, from a time of less solidarity between women over balancing work-life challenges to a more recent theme of mentorship, or "the movement of women helping other women." She notes a heightened social responsibility among women to lend each other a hand, saying: "It's like a new trend. I hope it stays."

Costa Rica's first female president speaks with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal about women's rights, innovation, and her remaining months in office....

On September 26, Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla participated in a private event as part of AS/COA's 2013 Presidents of the Americas Series. During the discussion, she spoke with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal about education and innovation in Costa Rica, her eight months left in the presidency, and the advancement of women's rights in Latin America.

Costa Rica ranked number one in women's rights in Americas Quarterly's 2013 Social Inclusion Index. According to Chinchilla—the first woman to be elected president in her country—Costa Rica's legislature has almost 50 percent of its seats occupied by women. "I believe in quotas, but they have to be seen as a transitional instrument, because otherwise is very hard to change attitudes," explained the president.

Although the president celebrates progress in terms of women's political participation in Latin America, Chinchilla believes there is much countries must do to make progress in the private sector. The president explains that when women work for corporations, they can have problems getting hired, be victims of underemployment, and have difficulty advancing to higher positions.

The former first lady of Mexico spoke during AS/COA's roundtable on women's economic empowerment in Colombia....

AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network held its first roundtable on women's economic empowerment in Colombia, convening leading women in business and public service to share their success stories and draw lessons for a rising generation of young professionals at the local and regional level.

Sharing experiences of remarkable leaders and their views on the importance of mentoring and networking are aimed to encourage entry- and mid-level women to make the leap to leadership positions within their own fields and, ultimately, to reach their goals.

Margarita Zavala is the former first lady of Mexico. During the tenure of her husband, President Felipe Calderón from 2006 to 2012, she was the president of the Consejo Ciudadano Consultivo del Sistema para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF), she headed la Estrategia Nacional para una Nueva Vida, and she worked on the issue of Proteccion for Unaccompanied Migrant Children, as well as Migrant Women. Previously, she was a federal congresswoman from 2003 to 2006, where she was named deputy coordinator of Social Policy of the PAN Parliamentary Group.

Following the "Women's Economic Empowerment in Colombia: Lessons from the Top" roundtable on June 12, Maria Emma Mejía discussed women’s leadership in an interview with AS/COA. The former foreign minister of Colombia and the president of the Board of Directors of Fundación Pies Descalzos spoke about achievements and obstacles for women in Colombia, and the role of mentorship in furthering gender equality in the public and private sectors.

Mejía noted that in the late 1980s, Colombian women began to gain a larger presence in the political arena as vice ministers, which started a political transformation. This led to a push for gender laws and quotas which she believes are critical to women’s success. Despite the fact that women now represent over 50 percent of Colombia’s university students, violence—especially in rural areas—represents an obstacle for Colombian women, she explained.

In addition, Mejía credited the late Congressman Luis Carlos Galán as her mentor, and said women need a similar figure to provide guidance. "[Women] have to take take risks," she noted. In spite of challenges and failures, she urged women not leave the labor force. "It's a life-long commitment," she said.

“[W]e can’t just look at half of society if we want to measure social inclusion,” says AS/COA’s Susan Segal on the assessment of women’s rights in the new Index....

Now in its second year of its Social Inclusion Index, Americas Quarterly added women’s rights as new indicator. AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal talks about why measuring women’s participation in society is a crucial element to measuring the concept of social inclusion in the Americas—not least due to how important women’s rights are to economic growth.

“What country can be competitive—particularly when many of these countries lack qualified workers—if 50 percent of the potential workforce is not in the workforce?” says Segal.

“What country can be competitive—particularly when many of these countries lack qualified workers—if 50 percent of the potential workforce is not in the workforce?” says Segal.

The Index analyzed five main areas assess women’s rights: maternal mortality rates, abortion laws and degrees of permissibility of abortion, women in political power, violence against women, and the existence of public information on violence against women. “If you don’t deal with violence against women then, in fact, you have no ability to change the society and have more social inclusion.”

“[W]e can’t just look at half of society if we want to measure social inclusion,” says Segal.

Americas Quarterly’s 2013 Social Inclusion Index evaluates 16 countries across 21 indicators in the areas of access to public and private goods by race, ethnicity, and gender; attitudes toward empowerment and government responsiveness; and the protection of basic civil, political, and human rights.

The BNY Mellon president talks with AS/COA Online about how to increase the number of women in business leadership roles....

President of BNY Mellon Karen Peetz spoke with AS/COA Online about increasing women’s board representation and the challenges facing women in top roles in business and finance. “We don’t have as many women in senior positions that people can look up to and aspire to,” she says.

Washington's top diplomat for the Americas outlines how the United States is partnering with Latin America on the advancement of women in political life and economic growth, as well as gender's role in anti-corruption efforts....

Washington's top diplomat for the Americas talked to AS/COA Online's David Gacs about ways the United States is partnering with Latin America on the advancement and inclusion of women in political life, their part in countries' economic growth, and gender's role in anti-corruption efforts.

As part of AS/COA's first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women’s economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere, AS/COA's President and CEO Susan Segal moderated a panel discussion on the importance of female role models.

Speakers:...

As part of AS/COA's first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women’s economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere, AS/COA's President and CEO Susan Segal moderated a panel discussion on the importance of female role models.

AS/COA hosted a panel focused on implications for economic development as part of its first annual full day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere. ...

AS/COA hosted a panel focused on implications for economic development as part of its first annual full day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere. Kristin Hetle, director of strategic partnerships at UN Women, moderated the panel, where speakers shared their personal stories and advice on how to take advantage of available economic resources.

As part of AS/COA's first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere, CNBC's anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera moderated a panel discussion on the woman entrepreneur.

As part of AS/COA's women's economic empowerment workshop, Bloomberg TV's Stephanie Ruhle moderated a panel on women's experiences in the executive suite....

AS/COA hosted a panel on women's road to the executive suite as part of its first annual full-day workshop and networking event focused on women's economic empowerment and leadership throughout the hemisphere. Bloomberg TV presenter Stephanie Ruhle moderated the panel, with speakers relating their experiences in the public and private sectors.

Speakers:

Judith McHale, Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Former President and CEO of Discovery Communications

The leading Mexican business leader discussed the challenges female executives and businesswomen face in Mexico and shared some of her experiences and best practices....

In a video presentation at AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event, the leading Mexican business leader discussed the challenges female executives and businesswomen face in Mexico and shared some of her experiences and best practices.

President & General Manager for Vaccines at Pfizer Susan Silbermann participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York. In this video, Silbermann discusses the reasons the role women should take in hemispheric economic growth....

President and General Manager for Vaccines at Pfizer Susan Silbermann believes female economic empowerment is "so important for the world, specifically for the hemisphere. What's fascinating to see in Latin America in the last few years is how many people have come out of poverty because of economic growth, and in those millions of people there are millions and millions of women. The more we can do to empower them, to grow businesses, to become a part of businesses, to create economic wealth, the better the region will do and the better the entire hemisphere will do."

Silbermann participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York.

Senior Adviser on Emerging Sustainable Cities for the Inter-American Development Bank Ambassador Carolina Barco discusses the importance of female economic empowerment, especially among Latin America's poor and the middle classes....

Senior Adviser on Emerging Sustainable Cities for the Inter-American Development Bank and former Colombian Ambassador to Washington Carolina Barco participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York.

In this video, Ambassador Barco discusses the importance of female economic empowerment in Latin America, "especially among the poorest and the middle class. Women are the mainstay of families and of communities."

President & CEO of Grupo Diarq Gina Diez Barroso participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event in New York, where she shared her ideas on the importance of female economic empowerment in Mexico: "I think that female empowerment has grown enormously and there have been a lot of changes, with many new female figures in different businesses, and I think it's going to continue to grow."

Director of Strategic Partnerships for UN Women Kristin Hetle discusses the economic logic of female participation in a country's economy in this video on the sidelines of AS/COA women's networking event....

As the Director of Strategic Partnerships for UN Women Kristin Hetle participated in AS/COA's October 11 women's networking event. In a short interview on the sidelines of the event, Hetle discussed the economic logic of full female participation in a country's economy.

The former under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs explains how female economic empowerment is relevant at every socio-economic level on the sidelines of AS/COA's women's networking event....

Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Former President and CEO of Discovery Communications Judith McHale explains how female economic empowerment is relevant at every socio-economic level. "You can't advance your country, your society, or your community when half of the population is not participating to the full extent that they could", says McHale.

Washington's top diplomat for the Americas outlines how the United States is partnering with Latin America on the advancement of women in political life and economic growth, as well as gender's role in anti-corruption efforts.
... Read More

The Summer 2012 issue of Americas Quarterly released on July 26 explores how despite impressive achievements in access to education and political representation, women continue to lag behind men in representation on corporate boards, in labor markets, in political party decision-making positions, and in judicial systems.
... Read More